MFSP pres. "Favourite music magazines & books" by Fred Nasen

Ghent based restaurant-cum-dancefloor Amigo has invited some of their extended family members to curate a series of mixtapes, dedicated to make you feel just that little bit more hungry. And willing.

As always, no genres or boundaries — just for fun. The september edition is created by Antwerp based Fred Nasen co-founder of We Are Various and Texture Radio host for 10 years now & of course a veteran dj in nightlife since 1993. He also founded the Visitor Record label in 2000 with over 45 releases from artists like Eddie Richards, Gideon Jackson & he released his own productions on it. Do google it. The last 10 years he’s focusing more on radio shows. 

For this blog section he wanted to give you a selection of favourite music reads. Here’s what he has to say about it: “A good music magazine has always been important for me since day 1. It gives me inspiration & motivation. Nothing beats a magazine or a book you can hold in your hand while going to sleep or while being on holiday. I love the long internet reads on Resident Advisor, Pitchfork or Test Pressing but I always have a different feeling about it & it’s hard to read it till the end. Maybe I’m too oldschool :). I’ve chosen old magazines who no longer exist with new magazines out there & I end up with some favourite music books. This is also a shout out & tons of respect to the people behing the magazines who still dare to take the risk in printing these days. I personally believe there’s still a market for it.”

Listen back to Fred Nasen’s mix for Music For Sharing Plates

Let’s start with my current favourite one, Record Magazine by editor Karl Henkell.
All editions up till now are worth every cent & most of the artists featured are totally up my alley, from Lovefingers, Lena Willikens to Alexis-Le Tan. A must read is the interview with Heidi Lawden. Hope the next one will be released soon.

Probably the best music magazine ever released, Jockey Slut. From gig guides to blindfolded reviews and of course good interviews. Jockey Slut had it all. I used to buy this all the time around 2000, but unfortunately like with lots of other magazines, I threw away lots of issues. I moved three times the last 4 years, so I’ll guess you’ll lose stuff and you get rid of stuff. Also Muzik is worth to mention cause in my ‘tech house’ period this magazine had the most interesting reviews (Dave Mothersole was one of their reviewers).

Not a 100% music magazine of course, but I guess it influenced my musical style and cultural taste in a certain way when I was a teenager. And they had the best covers and I’m a sucker for that. They just relaunched the magazine but as expected it’s a total different vibe or I’m too old now :).

A zine from London’s esteemed Left Alone Crew aka Ashton Holland. The first issue was accompanied by a mixtape by Nosedrip & Steel Bonus. Like Record Magazine it has a good selection of interviewees. From Will Bankhead, Fergus Clark to Zaltan.  Let’s hope a third one will follow soon.

This was probably my favourite Belgian cultural magazine. Also not 100% focused on music but it always had interesting interviews with Belgian or international musicians. Mostly focused on BXL which is nice cause BXL has an interesting & diverse scene.  Unfortunately this magazine stopped 2 years ago. But they still continue via the Word Radio.

Also a magazine that had a short life. I still read the older issues cause it’s pretty stuffed with long reads and I don’t always have the time to read a magazine immediately when I buy it. This was more like a mini book in my opinion than a magazine.

The magazine curated by The Beastie Boys. And very unique content. This reminds me of the time when I used to work at NEWS Distribution in Ghent. Regis who was the import manager back then, was always up to date with the good stuff. It was pretty limited import from the US so we just bought it for ourselves. 🙂 Note to self: still need to read the article about Lee Scratch Perry.

I have a soft spot for everything from NYC in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s. This must have been an amazing time to be alive. A very creative atmosphere but also a dangerous time to live out there. It wasn’t that clean like now. But people just tried new things even tough it was a big struggle to survive. These books show a small glimpse of it. From Talking Heads (at CBGB) to Kim Gordon, Beastie Boys & Andy Warhol.

I’m gonna end with a selection of books that I’m actively reading. Bill Brewster’s ‘A Dj Saved My Life’ which is like a history book of all genres. Just started reading it & love it. Yeah Yeah Yeah is also in that same kinda vibe but more on the op side of things. I’m already trying to finish this for 5 years. The ‘Nico Dockx invites Dennis Tyfus’ book is good to get a bit familiar with the Antwerp (punk – art) scene from late ’90’s – 2000. And he also selects 1 record each day for a year long, so once again some nice discoveries here. Dust & Grooves is more a coffee table book with pictures from diggers & vinyl collectors but the pictures are so good & it never gets bored to have a new look in it.